Egypt coach Hassan Shehata said he would not hand in his resignation if his side failed to overcome Zambia in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier.
Anything less than a win away to Zambia in the penultimate round of the World Cup qualifiers will damage Egypt’s chances of reaching the tournament for the first time since 1990.
The Pharaohs lie second in Group C with seven points, three behind leaders Algeria with two matches remaining. Only the group winners will qualify for next year’s South Africa finals.
Shehata is widely regarded as one of the best managers in Egypt’s history after steering the team to two successive Nations Cup titles in 2006 and 2008.
However, a failure to reach the World Cup – an ultimate goal for a country which struggled to live up to its reputation on the international stage – could seal his fate.
“I will not resign even if Egypt did not beat Zambia,” Zamalek icon Shehata told Modern Sport.
“I did not resign at any point in my career nor do I intend to. If the Egyptian FA think I’m no longer able to carry out my duties they should sack me.”
Egypt face Zambia in Chililabombwe before hosting North African rivals Algeria at Cairo Stadium on November 14.
